Abstract Previous studies have yielded conflicting results on the associations of maternal Fe intake with birth outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the associations between maternal Fe intake (total Fe from diet and supplements, dietary total Fe, haeme Fe, non-haeme Fe and Fe supplements use) and adverse birth outcomes in Shaanxi Province of Northwest China. In all, 7375 women were recruited using a stratified multistage random sampling method at 0–12 months (median 3; 10th–90th percentile 0–7) after delivery. Diets were collected by a validated FFQ and maternal characteristics were obtained via a standard questionnaire. The highest tertile of haeme Fe intake compared with the lowest tertile was negatively associated with low birth weight (LBW) (OR 0·68; 95 % CI 0·49, 0·94), small for gestational age (SGA) (OR 0·76; 95 % CI 0·62, 0·94) and birth defects (OR 0·55; 95 % CI 0·32, 0·89). Maternal haeme Fe intake was associated with a lower risk of intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) (medium tertile v . lowest tertile: OR 0·78; 95 % CI 0·61, 0·95; highest tertile v . lowest tertile: OR 0·76; 95 % CI 0·59, 0·93; P trend =0·045). The OR of LBW associated with Fe supplements use were as follows: during pregnancy: 0·72 (95 % CI 0·50, 0·95); in the second trimester: 0·67 (95 % CI 0·42, 0·98); in the third trimester: 0·47 (95 % CI 0·24, 0·93). We observed no associations of total Fe, dietary total Fe or non-haeme Fe intake with birth outcomes. The results suggest that maternal haeme Fe intake is associated with a reduced risk of LBW, SGA, IUGR and birth defects, and Fe supplements use during pregnancy reduces LBW risk.
Objective This study investigates the predictive value of CK-MB in treating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with urokinase combined with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) calcium.
The relationship between maternal oxidative balance score (OBS) in pregnancy, representing overall oxidative balance status by integrating dietary and lifestyle factors, and congenital heart defects (CHD) remains unclear; therefore, this study attempted to explore their associations among the Chinese population. We conducted a case-control study including 474 cases and 948 controls in Northwest China. Pregnant women were interviewed to report diets and lifestyles in pregnancy by structured questionnaires. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the adjusted ORs (95%CIs). Maternal OBS ranged from 6 to 34 among cases, and 5 to 37 among controls. Comparing the highest with the lowest tertile group, the adjusted OR for CHD was 0.31 (0.19–0.50). The CHD risk was reduced by 7% (OR = 0.93, 95%CI = 0.90–0.95) in association with per 1 higher score of OBS during pregnancy. The inverse relationship between maternal OBS and CHD risk appeared to be more pronounced among participants in urban areas (OR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.86–0.93). Maternal OBS during pregnancy showed good predictive values for fetal CHD, with the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.78 (0.76–0.81). These findings highlighted the importance of reducing oxidative stress through antioxidant-rich diets and healthy lifestyles among pregnant women to prevent fetal CHD.
Previous studies have yielded inconsistent results on the association between maternal dietary protein intake and birth weight. Moreover, little is known about the effects of dietary protein intake from different sources on fetal growth. This study aimed to investigate the associations of different dietary protein sources (total protein, animal protein, plant protein, and major dietary protein sources) during pregnancy with birth weight and the related adverse birth outcomes.7310 women were recruited using a stratified multistage random sampling method at 0-12 months (median: 3; 10-90th percentile: 0-7) after delivery in Shaanxi, China. Maternal diets were gathered by a validated FFQ and other characteristics were collected by a standard questionnaire. Multilevel linear or logistic regression models were used to estimate birth weight changes or ORs (95% CIs) for adverse birth outcomes associated with different dietary protein sources during pregnancy.The mean percentage of energy from total protein was 11.4% (SD 2.2), with only 27.4% of total protein derived from animal protein. Per 3% increase in energy from total protein, animal protein, and dairy protein was associated with birth weight increases of 19.4 g (95% CI 6.0-32.9), 20.6 g (4.8-36.5), and 18.2 g (4.7-31.7), respectively. Per 3% increase in energy from total protein, animal protein, and dairy protein was also associated with lower risks of low birth weight (LBW) (total protein: OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.64-0.94; animal protein: 0.79, 0.65-0.96; dairy protein: 0.71, 0.56-0.91), small for gestational age (SGA) (total protein: 0.88, 0.79-0.98; animal protein: 0.87, 0.78-0.97; dairy protein: 0.81, 0.68-0.96), and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (total protein: 0.84, 0.72-0.98; animal protein: 0.86, 0.75-0.98; dairy protein: 0.78, 0.66-0.92). We observed no associations of plant protein and other major dietary protein sources with birth weight and the above birth outcomes. The results did not change when maternal protein was substituted for fat or carbohydrate.Among Chinese pregnant women with low intake of protein, higher intake of dietary protein, in particular animal protein and dairy protein, is associated with higher birth weight and lower risks of LBW, SGA, and IUGR.
Objectives: Body water is fundamental in human metabolism. The current study aimed to evaluate the associations between body fluid rate (BFR) with plasma lipid profiles, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)/low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, among apparently healthy young Chinese adults. Methods: The study subjects were from the phase 1 sample of the 'Carbohydrate Alternatives and Metabolic Phenotypes' study. After excluding those lacking blood samples, a total of 95 subjects with an average age of 22.6 years were included in the analysis. Total body water (TBW) and body fluid rate (BFR) were measured using bioelectrical impendence analysis (TANITA, BC-420). General linear regression was used to evaluate the associations between body fluid rate with plasma lipid profiles. Results: The mean (SD) of TBW was 39.7 (4.7) kg and 26.8 (2.2) kg for males and females, respectively, while the mean (SD) of BFR was 55.8 ± 3.1 and 50.4 ± 2.1 for males and females, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, education attainment, smoking status, alcohol drinking habits, and physical activity level, negative associations (β, SE) were observed between BFR with triglycerides (−0.06, 0.02, p < 0.001) and LDL cholesterol (−0.07, 0.02, p = 0.003), while no significant associations were detected for total cholesterol (−0.06, 0.03, p = 0.052) and HDL cholesterol (0.02, 0.01, p = 0.074). These associations were not substantially changed with further adjustment of body mass index. In the stratified analysis by gender, the direction of the associations was not changed, but BFR was negatively associated with LDL cholesterol (−0.09, 0.04, p = 0.049) in males, and with triglycerides (−0.05, 0.02, p = 0.043) in females only. Conclusions: In apparently healthy young Chinese adults, BFR was negatively associated with triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, independent of body adiposity level.
Deep sternal wound infection is a severe complication after open heart surgery. According to the different severity and dimensions of the deep sternal wound infection, the treatment method is different. In this study, we aimed to describe our experience with the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap for large sternal wound management, especially when 1 or 2 internal mammary arteries were absent. Between October 2010 and January 2016, a retrospective review of 9 patients who suffered from the extensive thoracic defects after deep sternal wound infection was conducted. All of these sternal defects encompassed almost the full length of the sternum after debridement. Defect reconstruction was achieved by covering with a rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. When the ipsilateral or bilateral internal mammary artery had been harvested previously, we took advantage of the inferior epigastric artery to provide additional blood supply to the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. Thus, this flap had a double blood supply. There was no recurrent infection in all 9 patients. Three patients received the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap with a double blood supply. Flap complications occurred in 2 patients (22%). One patient who did not have the double blood supply flap suffered from necrosis on the distal part of the flap, which was then debrided and reconstructed with a split-skin graft. The other patient had a seroma at the abdomen donor site and was managed conservatively. None of the patients died during the hospital stay. This study suggests that the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap may be a good choice to repair the entire length of sternal wound. When 1 or 2 internal mammary arteries have been harvested, the inferior epigastric artery can be anastomosed to the second intercostal artery or the internal mammary artery perforator to provide the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap with a double blood supply.
The effects of zinc, copper, and selenium on human congenital heart defects (CHDs) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations of the maternal total, dietary, and supplemental intakes of zinc, copper, and selenium during pregnancy with CHDs. A hospital-based case-control study was performed, including 474 cases and 948 controls in Northwest China. Eligible participants waiting for delivery were interviewed to report their diets and characteristics in pregnancy. Mixed logistic regression was adopted to examine associations and interactions between maternal intakes and CHDs. Higher total intakes of zinc, selenium, zinc to copper ratio, and selenium to copper ratio during pregnancy were associated with lower risks of total CHDs and the subtypes, and the tests for trend were significant (all p < 0.05). The significantly inverse associations with CHDs were also observed for dietary intakes of zinc, selenium, zinc to copper ratio, selenium to copper ratio, and zinc and selenium supplements use during pregnancy and in the first trimester. Moreover, high zinc and high selenium, even with low or high copper, showed a significantly reduced risk of total CHDs. Efforts to promote zinc and selenium intakes during pregnancy need to be strengthened to reduce the incidence of CHDs in the Chinese population.
Objective To explore the association between birth season and physical development and provide a necessary reference value to inform the implementation of public health services. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Forty-five counties in ten provinces in western China in 2005. Subjects A sample of 13,387 children under 3 years old and their mothers were recruited using a stratified, multistage, cluster random sampling method. Results The results of the circular distribution analysis suggested that stunting and underweight exhibited time aggregation (Z = 32.57, P<0.05; Z = 10.42, P<0.05) among children under 3 years old. The Z − value for wasting, however, was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The generalized linear mixed models showed that children born in the summer were less likely to exhibit stunting (OR: 0.74~0.97) than were children born in the winter after adjusting for confounders, but no significant differences were identified for the other seasons. In addition, among children aged 25 to 36 months, those born in the summer and autumn were less likely to exhibit stunting after adjusting for confounders than were children born in the winter, but the association between birth in spring and stunting was not statistically significant. Conclusions Stunting was associated with season of birth among children under 3 years old in low-income counties in western China, especially children aged 25 to 36 months, and children born in the summer and autumn were less likely to exhibit stunting than were children born in the winter.